Highly branched polymer from telomerization

Abstract

A process for making hyperbranched polymers from An-Lz(XY)m type monomers wherein A is a polymerizable group moiety, XY is a telogen group moiety in which Y is a transferable atom or group which can participate in a transfer reaction with the formation of reactive X*, L is a linkage between A and XY, z is 0 or 1, and n and m are integers of at least 1, comprising: (a) initiating reaction by forming activated species from reaction between either an A or an XY group of the An-Lz(XY)m type monomer and an external stimulus to form activated monomer species with an activated polymerizable group moiety A* or an activated moiety X* derived from the telogen group moiety XY; and (b) polymer segment chain growth by (i) propagation reaction between the polymerizable group A moieties of the An-Lz(XY)m type monomers with the activated moieties A* and X* of activated species, and further reaction between the polymerizable group moieties with the activated moieties of the reaction products thereof, and (ii) chain transfer reaction between the activated A* polymerizable group moieties of activated species or of polymer segments formed in (b)(i) with XY telogen group moieties of the An-Lz(XY)m type monomers or of polymer segments formed in (b)(i), whereby activated X* moieties and inactive A-Y moieties are formed by transfer of transferable atom or group Y of the telogen group moiety XY to the activated A* moiety; wherein the reaction rates of the (b)(i) propagation reaction and of the (b)(ii) chain transfer reaction are within 2 orders of magnitude of each other, more preferably within one order of magnitude of each other, such that the combination of propagation reaction and chain transfer reaction results in formation of a highly branched polymer from the An-Lz(XY)m type monomer.

Description

[0001] The present invention generally relates to the synthesis of commodity and specialty polymeric materials. Specifically, the present invention relates to manufacture of polymers with hyperbranched architecture from telomerization.BACKGROUND OF INVENTION[0002] Highly branched polymers and copolymers have attracted considerable attention over the past decades, since many advanced materials with new or improved properties can be obtained therefrom. The terms "hyperbranched" and "highly branched" used herein with respect to branched polymers are intended to designate polymers having a relatively high percentage of propagated branching sites per number of polymerized monomer units, e.g. at least one branching site per every ten monomer units, preferably at least one branching site per every five monomer units and more preferably at least one branching site per every three monomer units. Highly branched polymers can be made by multi-step or one step processes. Multi-step generation p...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0017] The present invention provides a process which is adaptable to manufacture of hyperbranched materials with existing scale-up and commercialization facilities, and which may rely upon readily available starting materials and catalysts. The present invention provides a process by which a broad variety of functional hyperbranched polymers may be obtained, a process for making hyperbranched polymers in which a broad variety of macro-initiators may be employed, and enables the manufacture of hyperbranched polymers useful in a wide variety of known and novel applications.

Problems solved by technology

There are, however, disadvantages associated with the polymerization processes described in the prior art for the manufacture of vinylic hyperbranched polymers by living polymerization processes.

In the case of living cationic and group transfer polymerization, e.g., a trace of impurity such as water often prevents polymerization from proceeding, so often that there is even no polymer obtained.

Thus, these living polymerization processes are not preferred in industrial productions.

Second, the use of heavy metal containing inorganic salts in atom transfer radical polymerization is not environmentally friendly and practical.

However, no prior art discloses the synthesis of hyperbranched polymer by telomerization.

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